Despite a difficult childhood, Rose Andom didn’t let adversity stand in her way and became the first person in her family to attend college, graduating with her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kansas and her MBA degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
After working at the Hallmark Card Company and Ford Motor Company, she took a position at McDonald’s Corporation and entered an accelerated management development program. Ten years later, she left the corporate world and purchased her first McDonald’s franchise. Over the next 24 years, she owned and operated six McDonald’s restaurants, including the three at Denver International Airport. When she bought the DIA locations, the total volume was approximately $6 million. By Andom’s retirement in 2015, the annual net sales were nearly $20 million. She remained involved with the corporation and served on the board of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association for over 20 years in various positions, including as the vice chair for her last four years.
Andom is incredibly involved in the community and attributes this to her humble beginnings. She consistently donates to multiple nonprofit organizations, including the Denver Rescue Million, Warren Village, Women’s Foundation of Colorado, Denver Health Foundation, and Food Bank of the Rockies. Her proudest community involvement has been her role in opening the Rose Andom Center, which provides services to those suffering from domestic abuse. The Center opened in 2016 and Andom has contributed more than $2 million to date. Her next project is to build a 70-unit affordable apartment complex in Northfield for people experiencing homelessness.
In 2013, former Denver Mayor Michael Hancock honored Andom by proclaiming October 31 “Rose Andom Day” for her leadership and willingness to give back to the city. She received the Colorado Black Women for Political Action’s “Tribute to Black Women Award” for business in 2014 and the “Women of Distinction Award” from the Girl Scouts of Colorado in 2016. In 2024, Andom was honored and humbled to be inducted into the Colorado Business Hall of Fame.
